Karen Derr for City Council

I will Support Local Businesses

karen — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 03:17:25 +0000

I grew my residential real estate firm from a tiny concern with 3 agents to be in the top 25 in her field with 50 agents before I sold the company in 2008. I know hard work and getting the most for every dollar spent is key to success. Now more than ever, small businesses are complaining that fines, fees and red tape hamper their success. I know how much thriving good neighborhood businesses impact quality of life. Small businesses can not only enhance our property values but many collect sales tax revenue. They save us time, gas and employ young people close to home. They are important members of our communities. Karen Derr is proud to have worked on successful shop local campaigns like Heights First Saturday and White Linen Night. As your At Large City Council member, I will encourage small business development and help, not hamper, getting good, clean businesses online with the City in record time. They are one of the City’s best opportunities to keep our economy strong.

Back to School Highlights Need for Safe Sidewalks

karen — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:34:52 +0000

My concern for Houston youth is a year round passion but particularly when school is in session, Houston’s lack of sidewalks is problematic. Please remember to take care and drive the speed limit. With many parents and children forced to take to the street rather than safe sidewalks, drivers must be cautious to avoid disaster. I see many neighborhoods that not only lack sidewalks, but have dangerous debris with glass and paint dumped right beside where students walk when I’m out these days assessing needs in neighborhoods. I’ve worked with neighborhood education committees to focus on the 40 Developmental Assets youth need in their community to succeed. I also have organized with neighbors to jumpstart a stalled hike and bike trail which was stalled by government bureaucracy for 10 years after it was funded. I am a candidate that cares about our youth and a pedestrian friendly city.

Karen Get’s Neighborhood Democrats’ Endorsements

karen — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:29:15 +0000

Karen Derr is proud to receive the endorsement of two neighborhood clubs, the Oak Forest and the Spring Branch Democrats in August. Their support is particularly meaningful to Derr who is running on a platform of neighborhood concerns which she feels are key to Houston’s future growth and prosperity. “If we continue to let our City of Houston neighborhoods become more blighted, we will be hard pressed to maintain our tax base or attract new industry,” says Derr. The two neighborhood Democratic clubs screened candidates after requiring a completion of an in depth questionnaire which focused both on political values and knowledge of neighborhood issues. All candidates endorsed by the Spring Branch Democrats won in a vote by 75% or more of the member in attendance. Karen Derr has also received the endorsement of the Seafarers’ Union, the C.W.A. Union, and the Houston Stonewall Young Democrats.

Do you have a city park near you?

karen — Sun, 17 May 2009 12:37:29 +0000

I don’t live near a small neighborhood park but I’m very near the huge White Oak park that runs along the bayou from Studewood. It is well used by all kinds of folks, young and old. Places where you can get in a good walk, like linear parks, are always popular but I see many of our other parks are underutilized and frankly a little run down. Don’t get me wrong, green space for the sake of green space is very important to me but I’d like to see more of our parks be centers of activity for neighborhoods. They are very important to our seniors and youths’ quality of life. They should provide not only a place to admire nature but also the space for activities that need a little more room. Dog parks are an easy way the city can provide outdoor space without a lot of expense and concrete. And concessions. It’s hot here but a cool drink or snow cone might entice me to get my exercise in. As I visit Super Neighborhoods around Houston I hope to talk more about neighborhood parks. I have a friend who just boils when he sees another expensive city park open while we have so many pressing city issues unsolved and unfunded. I agree with him. This is no time for unbridled spending but making sure the parks we already have are beautiful assets to neighborhoods,not deserted and litter strewn, is a good way to increase quality of life without spending a lot I think.

Fund Raising Event

karen — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 15:27:50 +0000

Unfortunately fund raising is a large part of a candidate’s job. But we try to make it fun for you. Or at least convenient. You’re always just a click away on this site to easy, secure giving. If you’d like to be on the Host Committee of my upcoming fund raising event, please let me know as soon as you can. It will be at the end of April and the invitations are going to print soon. Most of the invitations will be e-mailed of course, a very casual way to ask for a $1000 or more, but I think fiscal responsibility is high on everyone’s list right now and one hates to think that their donation is going towards sending more invitations for more donations. If you are reading this and want to be invited drop me an e-mail at Karen@KarenDerr.com that says “save the stamp and e-mail my invitation.”

My favorite use of campaign funds is to participate in charitable causes and events where I get my message out to voters and do some good too.

I’m told by campaign consultants that getting candidates to call to ask for donations is the hardest thing to get candidates to do. I have to say that I enjoy it on some levels because I’m asking for help and a commitment. Everyone realizes no one gets elected without help and committed voters. As I became more accomplished in my own career, I was always proud to be able to donate to candidates that I admired. A donation is a vote ahead of election day. And any amount is always welcome with the candidates I’ve supported, just as it is with me today. If finance or fund raising is your forte’, please consider joining my finance committee.

At Large 1 Campaign Picks Up Steam

karen — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 04:11:36 +0000

Last week I announced my candidacy for At Large 1 and as a popular late night comedienne likes to say, “what a whirl wind.” With a few switches in team responsibilities, we’re now ready for a citywide race. Everyone on the original campaign staff is on board and I’m proud to announce that Marisol Rodriguez will head up the campaign team as manager. The website is being revamped, and will be rolled out in the next days, complete with video. The support and excitement from friends who can now support me all over the city has been great.

Youth, Education and Community

karen — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:16:46 +0000

Many of you know educaiton is my passion and has been the focus of my work in my own neighborhood. Whether it has been on my own as a good business neighbor or on committees with others, I’ve seen good things happen from just a little focus, a little money, and a little effort. Just think of all good city government should be able to do to make sure parents can keep their kids in school. My step-kids are grown and my grandkids live in Austin. I don’t get to mother them much but I’ve always been very close to my only nephew who lives here in Houston. You might say the poor thing is the focus of a lot of my attention - good at Christmas and Birthdays, maybe not so good at report card time. I remember his mom and I were interrogating him one evening late when he was about 9 years old about grades or something and he got exasperated and cried to me, “What are you doing here? You’re not even suppose to be here!” Maybe that’s how I want Houston children to feel when I’m in office. I’m not a teacher. I have no desire to run for school board. But I know keeping youth in school is just as much a community issue as a school issue. This past week I attended a LULAC gala at Brady’s Landing, saw my friend Irene Nava win a much deserved Marcella Perry prize in the Heights for her work in schools (she’s not a teacher,) helped friends raise over $3000 that night for classroom grants, gathered with friends at my office and planned a Youth Art Show with the HHA Education Committee and toured Helms Elementary with three wonderful ladies from Chicago and the National PTA who were interested in Helms’ dual language program. I make schools and youth in my oommunity my business. My nephew Jonathan goes to St. Ambrose Catholic School. His grades are no better than they were in public school but they are o.k. However, he loves his middle school. You know why? Friends and dances mainly. I want kids all over Houston to love going to their schools. If teachers can make sure learning is happening in the schools, the community should be able to make sure movies and dances are happening outside the schools, close to home, with neighborhood kids connected by safe sidewalks. I believe our teachers cannot do it all and parents need community support too. I guess I want to be a nosy aunt at city hall for Houston kids. I’m asking you to vote for me in November.

Grand Opening of Headquarters

karen — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 02:55:36 +0000

Next Saturday, February 28, from 2 to 4, we’ll be having an old fashioned patriotic grand opening of our headquarters at my house in the Heights. We’ll have a gourmet hot dog bar and chili pie, suds and soda AND apple pie, of course. The campaign has it’s own space over the garage but I have to say my house has a revolving door these days with all the volunteers coming and going. I actually love it. I encourage neighborhood guests to walk or ride bikes and we’ll have some give aways for everyone who attends. (Do yard signs count as a giveaway?) The whole campaign team will be on hand to tell you about volunteer opportunities and I will be there, of course, to visit and discuss city concerns. Stop by if you can. I’d love to see you and celebrate the campaign process with some old fashioned patiotic fun. 448 Columbia is the addres. Time: 2pm to 4pm

Walking the Walk

karen — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 06:30:48 +0000

I’m finding out in politics that the term block walking can accomplish many things. Tomorrow we will block walk for the third weekend. What a strange and wonderfully American course of action…walking door to door to remind voters that a special election is now officially called. It is more fun than you’d think and I have not experienced anything but kind words to date while walking for votes. It may seem like an inefficient way to communicate but really it is not. With one door knock I can inform, compel, poll and just connect with a neighbor I may need to know in the future. In my real estate business we had an ad which stated “People Love Porches.” When you are knocking on doors for your cause or your canditate those porches are a good place to come together. I invite you to try it with us one weekend.

On Turning 50…

karen — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 03:55:59 +0000

Last Thursday I turned 50 years old. I have to say that in looking back on accomplishments as we tend to do at times like this, this race for public office is already a proud accomplishment for me. It is a wonderful time indeed to be seeking to serve. And through hard work by me, my family and friends, I seem to be doing well in this race which will hopefully be official on Wednesday of next week. Of course I won’t be happy “just to be nominated” and nothing in politics is a sure thing so I’m ready to quadruple my efforts and energies as the election really begins. I hope you’ll join me in this exciting time for Houston neighborhoods. Not just exciting because of my campaign but because of the new energy for neighborhood quality of life improvement and atmosphere of innovation regarding urban living that I’m seeing everywhere I go. Yes, we can, indeed.